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iPad Air vs iPad Pro 2024: Specs & Comparison

The iPad Pro offers superior performance with the M4 chip, ProMotion 120Hz display, and professional features like Face ID and Apple Pencil Pro support, while the iPad Air provides excellent value with the M2 chip, 60Hz display, and Touch ID at a $200-400 lower price point.

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iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

Mid-range iPad with Apple M2 chip, 60Hz Liquid Retina display, and Touch ID authentication

Students, casual creators, content consumers, and professionals who prioritize value and don't need bleeding-edge performance

Score71%
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IP

iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

Premium flagship iPad with Apple M4 chip, 120Hz Mini-LED XDR display, and Face ID

Professional designers, video editors, photographers, architects, and power users who rely on their iPad as a primary creative workstation

Score71%
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Quick Answer

AI Summary

The iPad Pro offers superior performance with the M4 chip, ProMotion 120Hz display, and professional features like Face ID and Apple Pencil Pro support, while the iPad Air provides excellent value with the M2 chip, 60Hz display, and Touch ID at a $200-400 lower price point.

Our Verdict

AI-assisted

Choose the iPad Air if you need a powerful, versatile tablet for content creation, streaming, and everyday productivity at a reasonable price—it handles 99% of user tasks excellently. Choose the iPad Pro if you're a professional requiring maximum performance, advanced display technology with ProMotion, XDR brightness for color-critical work, and the latest M4 chip for demanding applications like 4K video editing and 3D design.

Community feedback

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Choose iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024) if

Students, casual creators, content consumers, and professionals who prioritize value and don't need bleeding-edge performance

I

Choose iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024) if

Professional designers, video editors, photographers, architects, and power users who rely on their iPad as a primary creative workstation

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Key Differences at a Glance

  • Processor:✓ iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024) wins(Apple M4 vs Apple M2)
  • Display Refresh Rate:✓ iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024) wins(120Hz ProMotion vs 60Hz)
  • Biometric Authentication:Touch ID (top button) vs Face ID
See all 7 differences

Key Differences

7 attributes compared head-to-head

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1iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)
iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024) leads1 tie
IP
5iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)
  • Processor

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    Apple M2

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    Apple M4(winner)

  • Display Refresh Rate

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    60Hz

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    120Hz ProMotion(winner)

  • Biometric Authentication

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    Touch ID (top button)

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    Face ID

  • Starting Price (256GB)

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    $599 USD(winner)

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    $999 USD

  • Display Technology

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    Liquid Retina LCD

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    Mini-LED with XDR(winner)

  • Apple Pencil Support

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    Pro & 2nd Gen

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    Pro, 2nd Gen & Hover(winner)

  • Maximum RAM

    iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

    8GB

    iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

    16GB(winner)

Pros & Cons

10 pros·4 cons across both

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IP
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iPad Air (6th Generation, M2, 2024)

+5-2

Pros

  • Apple M2 chip delivers excellent performance (8-core CPU, 10-core GPU) suitable for creative apps and gaming
  • 60Hz Liquid Retina display with 264 PPI maintains sharp visuals for most users
  • Touch ID in power button faster and more convenient than Face ID for tablet use
  • $200-400 lower starting price ($599 vs $999) makes it accessible for mainstream users
  • Supports Apple Pencil Pro and 2nd Gen for drawing and note-taking

Cons

  • 60Hz display noticeably less smooth than 120Hz when scrolling or playing high-refresh games
  • M2 chip is 2 generations behind M4, limiting future-proofing for demanding professional software
IP

iPad Pro (7th Generation, M4, 2024)

+5-2

Pros

  • Apple M4 chip (10-core CPU, 10-core GPU) delivers 20% faster performance than M2 for professional workflows
  • 120Hz ProMotion display with Mini-LED and XDR brightness (1,000 nits sustained, 1,600 peak) for color-accurate creative work
  • Face ID enables seamless app and payment authentication with dual TrueDepth cameras
  • Apple Pencil Pro with Hover feature provides haptic feedback before touching the screen for precision drawing
  • Up to 16GB RAM and 2TB storage supports complex projects, video editing, and multitasking

Cons

  • $999+ starting price is 67% more expensive than iPad Air, limiting accessibility for budget-conscious buyers
  • Mini-LED panel has rare backlight blooming issues in very dark scenes with bright content

Frequently Asked Questions

5 questions

  1. Yes, the iPad Air with M2 handles photo and video editing very well for most users. The 8GB RAM and M2 chip support 4K video editing in apps like Final Cut Pro and LumaFusion. However, the iPad Pro's M4 chip, 16GB RAM, and XDR display with 1,600 nits brightness give professional color graders and video editors a significant advantage for precise color work and faster rendering times.

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